A Message from Mayor Coffman - May 15, 2020

Thank you, Aurora, for helping us successfully get through the first week of Safer at Home. As we look forward to warmer weather and a holiday weekend, I encourage you to continue to follow guidance and do your part to keep our community safe and healthy. Beginning this week, I will be providing live weekly updates on Fridays at 3 p.m. which, for the time being, will focus on the COVID-19-related developments taking place that affect Aurora residents and businesses. You can learn how to join me for “Mike Mayor Live” and about other resources and city initiatives below.

We’re in the Safer-At-Home Phase

We have successfully made it through our first week of the Safer-at-Home Order. I continue to encourage all Aurorans to listen to and heed the guidance about social distancing and face coverings, especially as these businesses begin to reopen and we resume more activities outside the home.

Most restaurants remain open but for delivery, take-out or drive-up services only. Retail stores like thrift shops, craft stores, sporting goods, boutiques, appliance and large department stores are now open. Many still offer curbside pickup of your ordered items.

Personal services like hair salons, massage therapy, nail salons, personal training, pet groomers, and body art professionals can now open but have strict guidelines that the businesses and customers must follow.

For a full list of what businesses can be opened or places that remain closed, visit
COVID-19.Colorado.gov.

Want to get outside for some fun but continue your social distancing? Many Aurora golf courses have reopened for play and offer an outdoor recreational activity that was greatly missed by many of our regular customers.

Face Coverings in Aurora

The public health experts are largely united in their recommendation that the use of face coverings can be an important tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and that’s why I wholeheartedly encourage our residents to cover their mouth and nose when outside the home, especially when in businesses. We issued regulations in late April to support the state’s order for workers and strongly encourage the use of face coverings by residents going into businesses.

I invited Dr. John Douglas, executive director of Tri-County Health Department, to talk with me and the Aurora City Council on Monday about whether a mandate would be an important tool locally. Based on Dr. Douglas’ observations of widespread usage of face coverings in Aurora grocery stores, and concerns that a mandate might actually result in higher rates of non-compliance, it was Tri-County’s recommendation that a clear and aggressive education campaign may be more effective than a mandate. We will join Tri-County in communication efforts to our residents and businesses advocating for the use of face coverings. This is not the final say on this. I will be checking often to make sure people in Aurora are following this guidance, and if stronger action is needed, I will not hesitate to bring it forward.

Media Briefing with Tri-County Executive Director

If you missed it, I participated in a press briefing with Dr. Douglas and STRIDE Community Health Centers to discuss COVID-19-related initiatives. To listen to that interview, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3btlBJX

#MayorsChallenge and Supporting Local Businesses

Our long-awaited Mason's Dumpling Shop has opened on Montview Boulevard and takeout orders are "zipping out of the shop" as reported in Sentinel Colorado (https://bit.ly/3fLAgDu) this week. It's one of four restaurants that earned funding from the city of Aurora through our pilot restaurant incentive program for up-and-coming restaurants in northwest Aurora. When you are taking part in my #MayorsChallenge, remember to stop by Mason's Dumpling Shop, Baba and Pop's Pierogi, Third Culture Bakery and Carm & Gia's Metropolitan.

Food Assistance in the Community

The city initiated a survey to get feedback from the community regarding food needs. We will use the results to make decisions on how to deploy city funding to local nonprofit organizations that are providing food assistance.

The city is launching a mobile food pantry initiative that will distribute 1,000 boxes of food (enough for 9,000 meals) every week at various sites around the city. It’s free and open to all Aurora residents; you only need to show a photo ID or other proof of Aurora residency to be eligible. The first event is at Aurora Central High School on Wednesday, May 20, starting at 10 a.m. It will go until all the food is distributed, or 1 p.m. Other sites across the city will follow on future Wednesdays. Please be sure to practice good social distancing while waiting your turn.

I was so happy to support The Salvation Army-Aurora in its Food Box Distribution Event this week at the Town Center at Aurora. The event provided 3,000 food boxes to families in need.

The Aurora City Council and I continue to support Stanley Marketplace’s work with the Colorado Restaurant Response and CME Catering & Events to make 1,000 meals per day distributed to people in need via 13 different nonprofits throughout Aurora through the end of the month.

Moving the City Forward

I am so pleased that we were able to reopen golf courses this month. We have a Recovery Committee in place to develop reopening plans for other city facilities to the public as soon as we can. However, we want to make sure that we do so only when we can ensure the safety of our residents and business owners with adequate social distancing, clear signage and proper cleaning. I will be sure to let you know when we have dates for the reopening of other facilities.

This committee is also helping us make sure that when we reopen, we aren’t just looking for the status quo but how we can return with more innovative and efficient ways of doing things. The city of Aurora has continued to offer many services online to residents and businesses during this crisis. This will continue to be a big focus for us—it’s safe, convenient and efficient. Whether it’s filing an accident report, requesting a street repair or getting a permit, we want to make it as easy as it can be and spare people a trip to a building if at all possible.

Moment of silence at 7 p.m. May 15

Aurora will be joining the state and other Colorado cities in a coordinated effort on Friday, May 15, at 7 p.m. to honor those who have been lost in the COVID-19 pandemic with a moment of silence. The day also marks Peace Officers Memorial Day, and flags will be lowered to half-staff. I hope you will join me in taking a moment of silence at 7 p.m. and wearing your face coverings as a symbol that we will all do our part. The moment of silence will continue every Friday in May.

Mayor Mike Live

Starting this Friday, May 15 at 3 p.m., I will provide weekly updates, live-streamed simultaneously on AuroraTV.org and the city’s Facebook platform @AuroraGov. The weekly updates, “Mayor Mike Live,” will focus on COVID-19-related developments taking place that affect Aurora residents and businesses, such as city initiatives like the loan and grant program, community needs survey, rental assistance programs, food assistance efforts and your questions.

Finding Assistance

Did you lose your job? Do you have a small business? Questions about food assistance? Visit AuroraGov.org/COVID-19 where we have an extensive list of resources and links for you to choose what best fits your specific needs.

General Questions About COVID-19

For general COVID-19 questions, call CO Help at 303.389.1687, or for answers in many other languages, call 877.462.2911. Email COHelp@RMPDC.org for answers in English.